Senate rejects Buhari’s request to delete clause ‘disenfranchising’ appointees in electoral act 

The senate has rejected a request by President Muhammadu Buhari seeking to delete a clause in the newly-signed electoral act.

The upper legislative chamber rejected the bill through a voice vote when it was tabled to be read a second time.

When Buhari signed the electoral act amendment bill into law, he said clause 84 (12) disenfranchises political appointees.

He later sent a formal request to the national assembly for it to delete the clause.

Many of the senators who contributed to the debate on the bill, kicked against the amendment.

On his part, Enyinnaya Abaribe, senate minority leader, said it was not in the interest of democracy.

“I urge my colleagues not to allow this bill be read the second time,” Abaribe said.

Speaking in support of the bill, Ovie Omo-Agege, deputy president of the senate, said the bill should be allowed to scale.

“The framers of this constitution knew that a day like this would come and notwithstanding, they clearly stipulated in the constitution, those provisions dealing with qualification and disqualification,” Omo-Agege said.

“I therefore rise to support that the motion as moved by the senate leader be allowed to go for second reading.”